Cleaner for soldering irons



DCC- 12, 1944- A. STURTEVANT CLEANER FOR SOLDEHING IRONS Filed Oct. 25, 1943 n Jin/fo maffe (giuri/Lea a/n Patented Dec. 12, 1944 'aseaozz y CLEANER FOR-TS OEDERING`=`IRONS .Antoinette Stilrtevalit,.Forest,Park,.lll. 'Application' October 23, 1943i Seriali-No.5507g387 t2 Claims. ('Clul-HZIO) Thisiinventionerelates-fto `*devices for" cleaning theWpointsofy soldering`L irons.

One object `'of my invention. is 'tof provi'defa vllevice for cleaningA solderingiron `tips to remove "thezincrustation "formed when usedfor' soldering, thesaid incrustation resulting from', the impurities `inthe air 'which 'are attracted by the solder- ,ingirons Vand fromthe linx vthat is used for `solderingI purposes. "It is necessary ,occasionally l 10 I Fig.' 4 1s a longitud-malcross-sectwnal View on tocle'an the' iron, andfor that particular purpose, .the presentpracticeis to use rags, cloth; cotton Waste-.or .other similar materials .for cleaning `Isoldering irons. "The soldering ironlbeinghotv while cleaningnis/considered are'hazard, vthe .attendant risk` ofjiirst .charring the. cleaning .rags

.may result in .-.accdental conilagration .which .becomes .a` source:` of ,danger and `.the `prevention ,fthereofis vital.

It is an object ofrmy` invention to provide ya device ofrthefaiorementioned character which has a cleaning medium which may be shredded or of "shaving-like structure similar to steelwool or it may be a finely comminuted metallic or abrasive material such as sand, or powdered emery, or powdered oil stone, which may be used for this purpose, the said use of such material will prevent accidental lires from being started, and the cleaning substance being of a metallic or abrasive nature will provide a better cleaning action for 30 removing incrustation and other deposits usually formed on the tips of soldering irons; the said incrustation defeats the eficient use of the iron and impedes clean cut soldering operations being performed, the resulting soldered joints being 35 black or discolored rather than the bright silver- A like finish which is desirable.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character which can be utilized for soldering when the iron is mobile and adapted to be moved to the work, as well as an article which may be utilized for static soldering when the iron is clamped in position `fligflirepresentsa front'view ofmy invention '=`shmfviir-1jg-"a soldering iron-v inserted therein.

AFigf 2showsaffront-'view ofv that portion ofmy `"invention whichi-may'be removed from-clamping 5 'enga-gernerltand may be used when the-soldering lironis clamped in position.

yFig 3 is afrontfplanview 'ofthat'portion of Imyinvention `wh-ichdoes the actual cleaningof the soldering iron.

fthe 'line4-4"of`Figure 5.

"Fig fis la f transversal `cross=sectional lView on l the line 5-t5 of "Figure 1.

Referringm the various views, 6 generally,

15"characterizes-myinvention and is comprised of aeffzlamp lhavingalower arm "3 for attaching to '-aifwoodbenc-h or'other vsimilar'factory equip- Yment "Thelower `arm3*is'providedwith an ex- ,"ten'si'on 'adapted to vreceive'the screw Vclamp 9 "20 ha-ving' the equalizer `cup I I; andv ahand knob I D '-'perrnitting `clamping "'the 'said vdevice rigidly 'in place. The cleaning unit designated 20 is fas-c tenedin a spring clip I5 having an extension I'I which is mounted and is suitably drilled at I2 to 25 receive the fastening screw I3 and the nut I4, it

being clamped to the bracket 8.

The surfaces of the spring clip extension I 'I are, preferably, knurled as well as the surface I9 of the lbracket 8. This knurlingv affords a secure position once the screw I 3 and the nut I4 are clamped in place allowing the element 20 to be clamped at a suitable working angle. v

The clamp I5 has an open throat portion I6 and is made to resiliently hold the member 20 and prevent its displacement when the soldering iron 24 is used as indicated at Figure l, namely pushing it in and out of the container 20 as shown by the arrows while it is also subjected to a twisting motion or a rotating motion as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, for efficiently cleaning the soldering iron. The inner diameter of the spring clip Iii is somewhat smaller than the outer body diameter of the element 20 so as to frictionally hold the same in place and permit removal thereof for purposes later to be elucidated.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be noted that the actual cleaning element is comprised of a tube 20 having perforations 2| in `order to permit 50 air to ycirculate therethru to cool the steel Wool 23 which is packed therein in the form of asuitable cartridge Which may be removed when the same is fouled and will no longer function efliciently. When comminuted metallic or abrasive material is used the holes 2I are not needed since such material will not absorb much heat.

The tip 35 of the soldering iron 24 is inserted therein and by the motions illustrated by the arrows a cleaning is effectuated in an expedient and rapid manner. The tube is also tapered at the bottom in order to pack the cartridge material 23 so that ultimately when most of it is compressed and in the movement of the iron into element 20, the tapered portion 22 will tend to force the packing laterally toward the tip of the iron thus effectuating a pressure which will result in an ideal scraping operation.

The top of the member 20 is threaded to receive thecap 3| having a matching threaded portion 32 and a dished out portion 33 at the top as well as an enlarged opening 34 providing ample clearance for the diameter of tip 35 so that the same maybe inserted and removedvery easily, the dished out portion aiding in locating the same conveniently and with great facility.

In Figure 2, another method of using my device is indicated whereby the knurled portion of the cap 3I may be grasped by the iingers and element 20 removed from its resilient grip in the spring clip I5. When the iron 24 is clamped in place by clamp 25 which may be mounted on a work bench, the-clamping screw 26 holding such" irons that are used for production soldering. These irons are usually electrically heated as the iron illustrated which is connected to the conduits 28 and 29, in turn connected to a suitable source of electrical energy 21, a switch 30 being interposed therebetween to close and open the circuit.

In using a soldering iron mounted in this fashion, the work is usually brought up to it, and to facilitate cleaning it, the barrel element 20 with the cleaning cartridge is grasped in the hand after removal from the clamp I5, and brought up to the iron and then moved longitudinally in the direction of the arrows as well as rotationally clock-wise and counter clock-wise in order to effect a rapid cleaning action, after which the element 20 may be replaced in the spring clip I5 for use once again when necessary.

I believe, I have described and Arevealed the nature and operation as well as the use of my invention rather succinctly, it being susceptible of many alterations, modiiication, and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to all such modications, alterations and improvements which come within the spirit and scope of my invention as embodied in the accompanying drawing, and as elucidated within the purview of the foregoing description; my invention to be limited only by the subjoined claims.

Having thus disclosed and revealed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, soldering iron tip cleaning means comprising, a tubular element having a substantially conical closed end, a cap element secured to the open end of said tubular element provided with a funnel-shaped portion leading to a central opening to receive the tip of said soldering iron, and abrasive means packed within the said tubular means.

2. In a device of the character described, soldering iron tip cleaning means adapted to receive rotatably a tip of a soldering iron thereinto, and further adapted to be rotatably operative over the tip of said soldering iron, the said soldering ironftip cleaning means comprising, a cylindrical tube element having a threaded open end and a closed end of substantially conical configuration, a cap element having a cylindrical portion knurled on the outsideand threaded on the inner portion secured to the open end of the said cylindrical element, the said cap element having a dished out top portion provided with an opening therein adapted to receive the tip of a soldering iron, and cleaning material in the assembly of said cap and tube elements.

ANTOINETTE STURTEVANT. 

